The ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency-ECREEE has presented a cheque amounting to $282,902.00 to Unique Solutions & Unique Energy under the Unique Group of Companies. The presentation was made at the closing ceremony of the third annual ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Forum held in Accra, Ghana from the 22nd to the 24th October 2019. The Executive Director of ECREEE, Mahama Kappiah presented the cheque to the CEO of the Unique Group of Companies, Papa Yusupha Njie at a colorful ceremony witnessed by energy experts in the ECOWAS region and beyond.
The Third ECOWAS Renewable Energy Facility (EREF 3), is a highly competitive co-funding grant, designed to serve as a game changer in the quest to harness the full potentials of mini-grids in communities not connected to the national grid in a bid to enhance socio-economic development.
Winners of the highly competitive co-funding grant included sixother companies in countries such as Nigeria, Togo, Cabo Verde, Mali, and Ghana also received cheques ranging from various amounts funded by USAID. This is the first ever award by ECREEE to a Gambian company designed to usher in the Gambia’s first Solar Green Mini Grid Electrification project.
As part of its contractual and funding obligations,Unique Solutions & Unique Energy has committed the sum of $316,961.56 towards the project. This D30.6 million project will provide electricity to homes and businesses in the Sara-Pateh Jamwelly area of the West Coast Region of the Gambia and its environs as part of the initial phase.
Commenting on the D30.6 million dalasi project, PapaYusupha Njie said that his company has made significant contributions in the energy sector over the past few years. He noted that as the company prepares to celebrate its 20th Anniversary in business, he would like to see more Gambian owned companies play a greater role in the key economic sectors of the country. Mr. Njie said the focus should be providing affordable, reliable and clean energy to Gambians across the length and breadth of the country. He hoped that working with the Ministry of Energy, the Regulators, NAWEC and other stakeholders, the country’s first Green Mini-grid project would open doors for many opportunities such as jobs for young people as well as impacting thousands of ordinary Gambians in taking advantage of clean renewable energy sources.
Mr. Njie also thanked the Gambian Minister of Energy and his entire team, USAID and the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency – ECREEE, for entrusting his company with this opportunity and enabling them to change many lives
